Hillsborough families slam US journalist for branding tragedy a "riot"

Alex Beam Boston Globe columnistFAMILIES who lost loved ones at Hillsborough today slammed an American journalist for branding the tragedy a "riot."Columnist Alex Beam (pictured) provoked widespread anger among Liverpool FC fans across the world for inaccurate comments about the 1989 disaster.The Boston Globe writer said "internet fan sites are still agonising over a 21-year-old soccer riot that killed 96 people."In a caustic editorial, Beam also described Liverpool as "grotty", describing it as 'Worcester without the glitz.' Later yesterday, the newspaper corrected the columnist's blunder online, acknowledging the error and amending the article.But The Globe stopped short of offering an apology, merely describing the slur as "mischaracterization."The journalist was also slammed by Anfield bosses who condemned his column.A Liverpool FC spokesman said: "Mr Beam's comments are disgraceful and ill-informed.

Source: Liverpool_Echo